Two years of precision livestock management: harnessing ear tag device behavioral data for pregnancy detection in free-range dairy cattle on silage/hay-mix ration
IntroductionThe aim of this study was to evaluate the transformative potential of precision livestock farming (PLF) in dairy production, nutrition, and reproductive efficiency by implementing proactive management strategies that utilize real-time data.MethodsData were gathered from a commercial dair...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-03-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Animal Science |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fanim.2025.1547395/full |
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| author | Damiano Cavallini Melania Giammarco Giovanni Buonaiuto Giorgio Vignola Julio De Matos Vettori Martina Lamanna Paraskevi Prasinou Riccardo Colleluori Andrea Formigoni Isa Fusaro |
| author_facet | Damiano Cavallini Melania Giammarco Giovanni Buonaiuto Giorgio Vignola Julio De Matos Vettori Martina Lamanna Paraskevi Prasinou Riccardo Colleluori Andrea Formigoni Isa Fusaro |
| author_sort | Damiano Cavallini |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | IntroductionThe aim of this study was to evaluate the transformative potential of precision livestock farming (PLF) in dairy production, nutrition, and reproductive efficiency by implementing proactive management strategies that utilize real-time data.MethodsData were gathered from a commercial dairy farm, employing a 3D accelerometer system attached to ear-tags to monitor activity and rumination behavior. Additionally, information on animal-related events such as oestrus, artificial insemination, clinical diseases, and treatments was recorded.ResultsIt was observed that there were differences in rumination between positive and negative cows in the days following artificial insemination (AI). Specifically, from day 0 to day 16, negative cows exhibited a higher rumination time compared to positive cows, with this contrast being particularly significant on days 9 and 10. Over the duration of the study, cows that tested negative produced, on average, 0.78 kg more milk per day.DiscussionThis suggests that animals with higher milk production were less likely to be pregnant, potentially due to increased nutrient allocation to the mammary gland, resulting in a more pronounced negative energy balance and consequently lower conception rates. Furthermore, the accelerometer utilized in this study was capable of distinguishing differences in daily lying time between pregnant and non-pregnant animals on the days of oestrus return. This finding highlights the potential for developing a system alert to identify “probable pregnant” and “probable non-pregnant” animals. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-5a2447258bff4e38bd0c83006eb86b3e |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2673-6225 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
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| series | Frontiers in Animal Science |
| spelling | doaj-art-5a2447258bff4e38bd0c83006eb86b3e2025-08-20T03:41:04ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Animal Science2673-62252025-03-01610.3389/fanim.2025.15473951547395Two years of precision livestock management: harnessing ear tag device behavioral data for pregnancy detection in free-range dairy cattle on silage/hay-mix rationDamiano Cavallini0Melania Giammarco1Giovanni Buonaiuto2Giorgio Vignola3Julio De Matos Vettori4Martina Lamanna5Paraskevi Prasinou6Riccardo Colleluori7Andrea Formigoni8Isa Fusaro9Department of Veterinary Medical Science – Alma Mater Studiorum – University of Bologna, Bologna, Ozzano dell’Emilia, ItalyDepartment of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, Teramo, Piano d’Accio, ItalyDepartment of Veterinary Medical Science – Alma Mater Studiorum – University of Bologna, Bologna, Ozzano dell’Emilia, ItalyDepartment of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, Teramo, Piano d’Accio, ItalyDepartment of Veterinary Medical Science – Alma Mater Studiorum – University of Bologna, Bologna, Ozzano dell’Emilia, ItalyDepartment of Veterinary Medical Science – Alma Mater Studiorum – University of Bologna, Bologna, Ozzano dell’Emilia, ItalyDepartment of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, Teramo, Piano d’Accio, ItalyDepartment of Veterinary Medical Science – Alma Mater Studiorum – University of Bologna, Bologna, Ozzano dell’Emilia, ItalyDepartment of Veterinary Medical Science – Alma Mater Studiorum – University of Bologna, Bologna, Ozzano dell’Emilia, ItalyDepartment of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, Teramo, Piano d’Accio, ItalyIntroductionThe aim of this study was to evaluate the transformative potential of precision livestock farming (PLF) in dairy production, nutrition, and reproductive efficiency by implementing proactive management strategies that utilize real-time data.MethodsData were gathered from a commercial dairy farm, employing a 3D accelerometer system attached to ear-tags to monitor activity and rumination behavior. Additionally, information on animal-related events such as oestrus, artificial insemination, clinical diseases, and treatments was recorded.ResultsIt was observed that there were differences in rumination between positive and negative cows in the days following artificial insemination (AI). Specifically, from day 0 to day 16, negative cows exhibited a higher rumination time compared to positive cows, with this contrast being particularly significant on days 9 and 10. Over the duration of the study, cows that tested negative produced, on average, 0.78 kg more milk per day.DiscussionThis suggests that animals with higher milk production were less likely to be pregnant, potentially due to increased nutrient allocation to the mammary gland, resulting in a more pronounced negative energy balance and consequently lower conception rates. Furthermore, the accelerometer utilized in this study was capable of distinguishing differences in daily lying time between pregnant and non-pregnant animals on the days of oestrus return. This finding highlights the potential for developing a system alert to identify “probable pregnant” and “probable non-pregnant” animals.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fanim.2025.1547395/fullprecision livestock farmingsensorsruminationreproductive efficiencyfarm management |
| spellingShingle | Damiano Cavallini Melania Giammarco Giovanni Buonaiuto Giorgio Vignola Julio De Matos Vettori Martina Lamanna Paraskevi Prasinou Riccardo Colleluori Andrea Formigoni Isa Fusaro Two years of precision livestock management: harnessing ear tag device behavioral data for pregnancy detection in free-range dairy cattle on silage/hay-mix ration Frontiers in Animal Science precision livestock farming sensors rumination reproductive efficiency farm management |
| title | Two years of precision livestock management: harnessing ear tag device behavioral data for pregnancy detection in free-range dairy cattle on silage/hay-mix ration |
| title_full | Two years of precision livestock management: harnessing ear tag device behavioral data for pregnancy detection in free-range dairy cattle on silage/hay-mix ration |
| title_fullStr | Two years of precision livestock management: harnessing ear tag device behavioral data for pregnancy detection in free-range dairy cattle on silage/hay-mix ration |
| title_full_unstemmed | Two years of precision livestock management: harnessing ear tag device behavioral data for pregnancy detection in free-range dairy cattle on silage/hay-mix ration |
| title_short | Two years of precision livestock management: harnessing ear tag device behavioral data for pregnancy detection in free-range dairy cattle on silage/hay-mix ration |
| title_sort | two years of precision livestock management harnessing ear tag device behavioral data for pregnancy detection in free range dairy cattle on silage hay mix ration |
| topic | precision livestock farming sensors rumination reproductive efficiency farm management |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fanim.2025.1547395/full |
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